"Elva was a bright, shining light to so many in her family. She was a gentle spirit, so full of life, so full of love. My deepest sympathies to all in her family."
In loving memory of
Elva M. Carmean
January 5, 1916 - March 4, 2016
Elva Marie Carmean, 100, died March 4, 2016, at Northridge Village in Ames. A celebration of life memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday May 14, 2016, at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1517 Northwestern in Ames. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will take place at Ames Municipal Cemetery.
The second of three daughters, Elva was born January 5, 1916, in rural Shelby County, Iowa, to Edward and Jennie Erickson. She graduated in 1934 from Harlan High School. While working at the bank in Harlan she met C. S. "Bill" Carmean the handsome new Iowa State Highway Commission engineer assigned to the Harlan office. Bill was as taken with the beautiful bank clerk as Elva was with the handsome engineer. They were married in Fremont, Nebraska, on May 4, 1941, and spent the next 69 years together raising their family.
Elva always considered her most important job was being a Mom, at which she excelled. She was an extraordinary gardener- growing and canning everything from fruits to vegetables. Also a talented seamstress she sewed beautifully from silk lined coats to both of her daughter's wedding dresses, and all of her grandchildren's cutest Halloween costumes. She hand quilted quilts, knitted, and crocheted. Her family delighted in the sweaters, hats, and afghans made with her love. Elva and Bill spent their retirement years in Arizona and Florida enjoying sunshine, golf, and their friends. She didn't hit the ball far but it was always straight down the middle and she was deadly on the greens. Humble always, she could sink a 25 foot putt while saying "Oh gee, I just don't putt very well anymore."
Elva is survived by her two daughters; Jennifer Thomsen of Centennial, CO and Carol (Curt) Houge of Ames, a daughter-in-law, Arla Carmean of Ames; five grandchildren, Shelli Thomsen, Farmington, NM, Tami Carmean Kucera (Doug), Denver, CO, Tara Carmean Wangen (Brett), Windsor, CO, Crystal Houge Brugman (Dana) Spencer, IA, and Clint Houge (Michelle Jones) Webster City, IA; eight great-grandchildren, Jessica Hoskins Burchinal (Geoff), Aurora, CO, Tyler, Cody, and Ava Wangen, Windsor, CO, Abigail and Cecilia Brugman, Spencer, IA, Stephanie and Christian Carleton, Webster City, IA; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband in 2010, her son Charles S. "Sam" Carmean II, grandson Jeff Thomsen in 2006, and her two sisters: Alma Erickson Clodfelder and Elsie Erickson Huffman.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Bethesda Lutheran Church or Mary Greeley Hospice Home Care.
Online condolences may be directed to www.grandonfuneralandcremationcare.com
Tributes
"Although I will miss her, I know she was ready for her new journey into eternal life. She was a faithful witness who truly lived a full and wonderful life of gratitude. She was an inspiration to us all.I will always remember how much she enjoyed her 100th birthday party with so many of her loving family and friends sharing it with her. She was a blessing to us all. Sympathy to all in her family. I will look forward to celebrating her life with you again in May, at Bethesda."